March 29, 2011
It’s been hard for me to think about anything else lately, so I apologize for being a little behind on posts.
For those of you who know me, Mily is my sweet kitty. She’s around 6 years old, and she’s my very first pet that I’ve ever owned as an adult. I got her when she was a teenie-tiny kitten, and she’s been one of the most important things in my life.
She's the calico sleeping on the books. This is the very first picture I ever saw of her before she was ever even mine. How could you resist??
(She’s also been quite a frequent subject/model for many of my photography trials over the years.)
Lately, though we’ve been struck with some news that’s been hard to swallow. She’s been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, and it’s advanced for how young she is. She’s still the happiest little kitty, but knowing that she’s hurting is hard for any “parent”. Without going into all the gruesome details, we’re doing all that we can and our vet has now become a frequent phone friend. I have a wonderful support system of friends and family that have helped in ways I can’t even begin to explain. Sorry this blog is a little bit of a downer, but coping with a situation like this is taking a lot of strength that I didn’t think I had.
Mily is THE reason why I love photographing animals. They have so much personality, and I love the way they interact with the “humans” they love. She’s my sweet girl, and she’ll continue to be my little feline model.
Please keep her in your thoughts. We can take all the good vibes and Ju-Ju we can get!
Until next time, I close with a few more pictures of my girl.
She's around 6 months old here, and she used to travel with me all over the state of Florida when I graduated from college. This was a dangerous point and shoot photo shot while driving on I-75 in Florida.
Most recent glamorshot while posed in our bedroom window.
January 30, 2010
So, I wanted to post this news sooner, but unfortunately I became deathly ill on Wednesday and am just now starting to feel slightly normal again….
Exciting times happened last week. On Monday, January 24th about 30-40 of my photos started to get installed in a senior living facility in New Braunfels, TX. It’s very exciting for me to see the impact of what my photos have on other people. Unfortunately, they’re being installed in a renovation type of setting so they will be installed in phases. Only a few have been put up so far, and a friend who was installing them delighted me with e-mailed photos as they were being hung.
Texas Hill Country flowers printed on canvas
Going Up!
So Proud 
Once all of the images have been installed I’ll head down to the site and get photos of the finished product. More to come!
January 9, 2011
In the good form of trying to start the New Year off right, I had the opportunity to do a photoshoot for a very talented jewelry designer, Sharamey Sandidge! This was a new challenge for me, since most of the photos I’ve shot in the past have been living & breathing, large or landscape form. In doing proper research to prepare for the shoot, I found that lighting jewelry is the most difficult part. So, after much reading and searching, I built what’s called a “soft box”. It wasn’t hard at all! Having been through Interior Design school, you get lots of experience with building models, so this was a fun challenge!
In the end, (2) 11″ x 14″ photo mats, (3) lamps, (1) piece of foam core, (1) poster board and some trace paper became this!
"Soft Box"
"Soft Box"
And the end result turned out awesome! I’m so proud of the photos, and can’t wait to take more!
Ring
Necklace
Necklace
Happy New Year!
November 20, 2010
So the photo bug has bitten me for a longgggg time.
I remember when my parents gave me my first 35mm camera. 35mm was NEW technology to me at the time, and I was SOO excited about getting to pick out film from the grocery store and have pictures developed at Eckerds. I used to take pictures of EVERYTHING! Looking back through old photo albums I have some very interesting shots of which I have no idea why I took them: a blurry teddy bear’s face, my room in all it’s mess, views out of hotel room windows that view onto the wall adjacent. No idea. I guess I just ”couldn’t contain” my excitement. Plus there was always the fun chore of convincing my parents that instant gratification was a MUST and we have to have the photos developed in the “1 hour” way instead of the “3 hour” way. 3 hours was just far too long to wait - I lost that battle a lot.
However, growing up I did have 2 perfect little models that would oblige me every so often. My siblings often became a target for my creativity. Unfortunately (I guess for them) I still have the pictures, and tend to use them as inspiration (or a good smile) every so often. This is a just a small sampling.
Calvin Klein shot in the Murrell Household living room
I remember asking her to sign her favorite one... (I particularly love the fact that we used an old blanket as the back drop and I managed to capture the edge with all the holes--adds character, right?
- Later (not long after original shoot) I subjected my sister’s friend as well…
One of my all-time favorite pictures of my brother I ever took as a kid
- Char posing in Dad’s slightly oversized suit. (Funny side note – Charlotte is currently wanting to attend law school.)
As I look through these again I realize that these photoshoots did not just happen once or twice. They happened quite a bit, and as you’ll notice my sister just keeps looking older and older and yet the torment continued.
Greg and Char, I love you guys!
November 15, 2010 – My new website is up and running!! I’m so excited about this venture in my life! I’ve decided that adding a blog could give anyone more insite to me as a photographer and as a person.
I’ve loved taking pictures ever since I was a little kid! My grandfather taught me how to use a camera when I was in elementary school. It was one of those 110mm camera’s from the eighties that was long and skinny and had the disposable flashes that smelled like burnt hair after they were used. I wish I still had that thing! I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for his encouragement and teachings. I love you and miss you Grandpa Lee!
Since this is my first post, I’d just to just mention a few names. This site took some help from a very good friend of mine in order to complete. Creating a website was new for me with lots of parts and pieces that I had no idea about. Thank you so much Sean for your paitence with me!
My dear friend long ago
And lastly, thanks to my all my friends and family who have given me the opportunity to travel or photograph your animals, and encouraged me to do something like this. I love you all!
Here’s to a new leaf and new exciting times!
Cheers!
